Full Breakdown
Allisha Gray’s Hand Injury Shifts Atlanta Dream’s Semifinal Strategy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Guard ruled out for a decisive playoff game
Atlanta’s leading scorer, Allisha Gray, suffered a left-hand injury in the opening game of the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty. After briefly returning in the second quarter, she re-injured the same hand while diving for a loose ball and was ruled out before halftime of Game 2. The Dream later announced she would also miss Game 3, citing “the interest of caution.”
Background & Context
Gray, a four-time All-Star, entered the 2026 season as the Dream’s top scorer (19.0 PPG) and started all 44 regular-season games. The Dream entered the semifinals with a 30-14 record and a 2-0 series lead—a lead that, according to ESPN, has never been overturned in WNBA playoff history.
Data & Statistics
- Allisha Gray: 19.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG (regular season).
- Series status: Dream lead 2-0 in a best-of-five semifinal.
- DeWanna Bonner: 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists in 30 minutes when she started in Gray’s place.
Official Statements & Responses
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco noted that the Dream will likely stick with the same style that succeeded in Game 1, despite the loss of Gray.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I know how much she would want to be on the floor. With us, we know ho much we use her offensively and defensively, but the 'next woman up' mentality is for everybody, not just the players coming off the bench or whoever's gonna fill in her role,” — Naz Hillmon
- “We’ll have to see how, kind of, the game goes,” — Karl Smesko, Dream coach
- “The mentality is just that it’s not over,” — Sabrina Ionescu
- “At this point, you don’t want to recreate yourself. They’re going to probably play the same brand that they play. They had success in Game 1 doing so,” — Chris DeMarco, Liberty head coach
On-the-Ground Reports
Teammates said Gray remained in “good spirits” despite the setback. Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner assumed the starting guard role and delivered a 23-point performance, while bench players Isobel Borlase and Te-Hina Paopao saw increased minutes. The Dream forced 21 turnovers in Game 2—a WNBA playoff record.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on which specific game Gray missed. USAToday and Bozemandailychronicle state she was ruled out for Game 2, while Newsweek and ESPN indicate she also missed Game 3. No source provides a detailed medical assessment beyond the mention of an X-ray.
What’s Next
With Gray unavailable, the Dream are expected to start DeWanna Bonner at guard for Game 3 and allocate additional minutes to Isobel Borlase, Te-Hina Paopao, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. The team’s 3-point shooting will rely more heavily on Jordin Canada, Angel Reese, and Rhyne Howard. The series concludes on Saturday, with the WNBA Finals slated to begin on Oct. 17.